Combined stool and christmas tree holder



June 12, 1934. J. E. NEIDINGER 1,962,255

COMBINED STOOL AND CHRISTMAS TREE HOLDER Fild May 13 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet1 John 1551? R er BY Mg WW ATTORNEY June 12, 1934. J NE|D|NGER 1,962,255

COMBINED STOOL AND'CHRISTMAS TREE HOLDER Filed May 15. 1953 2Sheets-Sheet 2 a 1 2 Fi .5 {2 :1

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INVENTOR holder with an expanding top, so that it can fit Patented June12, 1934 PATENT OFFICE COMBINED STOOL AND CHRISTMAS TREE HOLDER John E.Neidinger, Rochester, N. Y.

Application May 13, 1933, Serial No. 670,841

7 Claims.

The object of this invention is to provide a new and improvedcombination Christmas tree holder and stool.

Another object of the invention is to make the any size tree trunk andclamp it securely in place Another object is to provide an adjustablecone-shaped water cup in which the base of the 0 tree will snugly fit,which also helps to hold the tree in place and supply it with water.

These and other objects of the invention will be illustrated in thedrawings, described in the specification, and pointed out in the claimsat the broken away, the top of the stool being shown somewhat expanded.

Figure 5 is a detail view of the plug that is used to close the centralopening in the top of the stool.

Figure 6 is a bottom plan view of a modified form of the stool andChristmas tree holder.

Figure '7 is a section on the line 7a:-7a: of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a top plan view of the stool, partly broken away, the topbeing shown somewhat expanded.

Figure 9 is a detail view of one of the supporting legs.

Figure 10 is a vertical section on the line 10x-- 102s of Figure 6.

In the drawings like reference numerals indicate like parts.

In the drawings reference numerals 1 and 2 show the two halves of theround stool top, each of which is in the form of a semicircle. Thesehalves are cut away at the center to form a circular opening 3. Eachhalf of the stool is bound around with a semicircular metal strip 4 and5. Each half of the stool is provided with a brace 6 or 7, each bracebeing rigidly fastened to its half of the stool top, and making positivesliding engagement with the other half of the stool top. For thispurpose the brace 6 is fastened to the section 1 of the top by thescrews 8 and 9, and is provided with a slot 10 that makes slidingengagement with the stud 11 provided in the section 2 of the top of thestool. In like manner the brace 7 is fastened to the section 2 of thetop, and makes sliding engagement with the section 1 of the top.

This top is supported on four legs 13, 14, 15, and 16. The top of eachof these legs is tapered and fits into a socket or boss 17 fastenedunder the top of the stool. Each leg is fastened in place by one or morescrews 18, by which it is firmly held in place. These legs can be easilyremoved for the purpose of shipping knockeddown, and can be easily andquickly assembled when the device is placed in use or on sale.

Diametrically of the stool are placed the two sliding brackets 19 and20. Each of these brackets is slotted as indicated at 21, and each ofthem engages a stud 22 placed in the bottom of the stool, with which itmakes engagement by a washer 23 and a wing nut 24. These brackets can bemoved in and out radially. At the inner 7 end they are bent down on anincline as shown at 2'7, and are fastened to the rim of a cone-shapedcup 26, which is thereby held centrally of the opening 3 in the top ofthe stool.

The brackets 19 and 20 are rigidly fastened to the cup 26, and the twosections 1 and 2 of the stool top are held together by these brackets,and the washers 23, 23 and the wing nuts 24, 24 and-studs 22, and bythese parts the cup is oentered between the sections of the stool top.

The base of the tree fits in this cup and is supported thereby, and thetree is engaged by the spikes or studs 28 and 29, which engage in thetrunk of the tree as the top is closed around it by moving the twosections of the top together. If the tree tilts to one side or theother, this can be rectified by loosening the wing nuts 24 and movingthe cup 26 and the brackets until the tree stands in an uprightposition.

In Figure 2 I have shown a vertical section of a modified form of thecup 35, in which the cup is shown with a series of corrugations, eachcorrugation being a little larger in diameter from bottom to top. Thiscup will not only firmly engage the base of the tree, but will also holdmore water than the cup having a cone shape.

As shown in both Figures 1 and 2, the bottoms of the cups are closedwith metallic bottoms, and below this the cup is supported by a peg 36,which rests on the floor and prevents the stool from 5 sagging in themiddle, and takes the strain 011 of the brackets 19 and 20.

When the stool is not in use for holding a Christmas tree, the openingbetween the two sections thereof is closed with a plug 38 and the twosides are brought together in direct contact with each other as shown inFigure 3.

As shown in Figure 4, the section 1 is provided with dowel pins 40 and41, which slide in the sockets 42 and 43 on section 2, and these help tolock the two sides together and hold them in line with each other.

In Figure 6 I have shown the same type of a stool, having a rectangulartop. This stool has the two top sections 51 and 52, supported by legs53, 54, 55 and 56. On each side of this top is provided rails 5'7 and58, to which the legs above referred to are attached. These rails aregrooved as indicated at 59 and 60, and the sections 51 and 52 havetongues 61 and 62 on each side thereof, which engage with these grooves.

The section 51 is rigidly fastened to the cross bar 65, which in turn isfastened to the rails 57 and 58. The section 52 makes sliding engagementwith the rails 57 and 58, which rails are held spaced apart by the crossbar 66.

A cup 26 or 35 is provided, as is shown in Figure 6, similar to what isshown in Figures 1 and 2, to which the brackets 19 and 20 are attachedrigidly, as above described. The section 52 of the top is held orclamped in its adjusted position, to the section 51 by the brackets 19and 20, and cup 26, and wing nuts and studs as shown in Figure 3. Thetop sections 51 and 52 are also supported by the rails '20 and 71, whichrun parallel to the rails 5'7 and 58 and are attached thereto. Theserails are cut away at the corners to make room for the lugs 72 at thetop of each of the legs 73. The legs are fastened in place by the screw'74, which passes through the leg '73 and enters the rail 57 or 58.

On the bottom of the top section 52 I provide the pins '76 and 7'7,which engage the cross bar 66 and hold the section 52 from being pulledout too far.

I claim:

1. In a combined stool and Christmas tree holder, the combination of atop divided into two members, a brace rigidly fastened to'theunder sideof each top member and making sliding engagement with the other topmember, two legs fastened to the under side of each top member, a cupmember comprising a cup and having a bracket rigidly fastened on eachside thereof, studs on the under side of each of said top memhere, withwhich said brackets make sliding engagement to center the cup under thetop of the stool, and by which the cup and the two members of the top ofthe stool are held rigidly together in correct relation to each other.

2. In a combined stool and Christmas tree holder, the combination of atop divided into two members, means for adjusting said members towardand away from each other and putting them in proper relation to eachother, a cup member comprising a cup having a bracket rigidly fastenedon each side thereof, studs on the under side of each of said top mmbers, with which said brackets make sliding engagement to center thecup under the top of the stool, and by which holder, the combination ofa top divided into two,

members, each member being cut away centrally of the top to form anopening between them for the trunk of the tree, a cup member comprisinga cup having a bracket rigidly fastened on each side thereof, studs onthe under side of each of said top members with which each of saidbrackets make sliding engagement and tension devices engaging said studsand bearing upon said brackets to center the cup under the top of thestool, and by which the cup .and the two members of the top of the stoolare held together.

i. In a combined stool and Christmas tree holder, the combination of atop divided into two members, each member being cut away centrally ofthe top to form an opening between them for the trunk of the tree, a cupmember comprising a cup having a bracket rigidly fastened on each sidethereof, studs on the under side of each of said top members with whicheach of said brackets make sliding engagement and tension devicesengaging said studs and bearing upon said brackets to centerthe cupunder the top of the stool, and by which the cup and the two members ofthe top of the stool are held together, a stud in each top memberextending into said opening, adapted to engage in the trunk of the tree.

5. In a combined stool and Christmas tree holder, the combination of atop divided into two members, each member beingcut away centrally of thetop to form an opening between them for the trunk of the tree, a cupmember comprising a cup having a bracket rigidly fastened on each sidethereof, studs on the under side of each of said top members with whicheach of said brackets make sliding engagement and tension devicesengaging said studs and bearing upon said brackets to center the cupunder the top of the stool, and by which the cup and the two members ofthe top of the stool are held together, said cup being tapered.

6. In a combined stool and Christmas tree holder, the combination of atop divided into two members, each member being cut away centrally ofthe top. to form an opening between them for the trunk of the tree, acup member comprising a cup having a bracket rigidly fastened on eachside thereof, studs on the under side of each of said .top members withwhich each of said brackets make sliding engagement and tension devicesengaging said studs and bearing upon said brackets to center the cupunder the top of the stool, and by which the cup and the two members ofthe top of the stool are held together, said cup being tapered andhaving an extension on the bottomthereof that normally rests on thefloor.

'7. In a combined stool and Christmas tree holder, the combination of atop divided into two members, each member being cut away centrally ofthe top to form an opening between them for the trunk of the tree, acup' member comprising a cup having a bracket rigidly fastened on eachside thereof, studs on the under side of each of said top members withwhich each of said brackets make sliding engagement and tension devicesengaging said studs and bearing upon said brackets to center the cupunder the top of the stool, and by which the cup and the two members ofthe top of thestool are held together, said cup being tapered and havinga series of annular corrugations therein.

JOHN E. NEIDINGER.

